In this second year-end reflection, I get blunt about a lesson that’s taken years to fully grasp — but in 2025, it became undeniable: the white evangelical movement in America is utterly depraved. Not just theologically. Morally. Culturally. Publicly. From Donald Trump’s ongoing abuses to the disgraceful “revival” at Charlie Kirk’s funeral, 2025 made it crystal clear: this movement is no longer about Christ — it’s about power, whiteness, and control. And it’s dragging the name of Jesus through the mud.

After ten days offline over the holidays, I’m back — and in this first episode of a short, year-end series, I’m getting personal. I didn’t plan to disappear. But somewhere between writing another essay on Donald Trump and realizing I didn’t want to ruin Christmas thinking about him, I made a decision — to step back and protect my joy. In this reflection, I share why that pause mattered, what it taught me, and how it connects to the long-term work so many of us are doing at the intersection of faith, politics, and democracy.

Six years ago, I made my first YouTube video warning about Donald Trump’s dangerous impact—not just on our nation, but on the souls of those who support him. This week’s primetime speech confirmed what many of us have long seen: Trump is unraveling, and his movement is more toxic than ever.   In this episode, I break down the central truth his followers still refuse to face—and why truth itself is on the line for Christians in America. I share my pastoral concern, rooted in Scripture, about what happens when the people of God embrace lies in the name of Jesus.

Pat offers a response and some encouragement after a really difficult weekend around the world.

The news was heavy last week with the Brown University shooting, the Bondi Beach terror attack, and the deaths of Rob Reiner and Michele Singer Reiner. Pat Kahnke and Producer Ken Napzok are here to take a look at the news and remember influential actor, director, and political activist Rob Reiner. From YouTube Live 12/16/2025.

The New York Times just dropped a bombshell story: the Trump family’s disturbing relationship with Andrew and Tristan Tate—two of the most proudly abusive, misogynistic figures online. This episode breaks down what the article reveals, why it matters for Christians and conservatives, and why ignoring it only deepens the moral decay in American politics. 

In this honest and theologically grounded conversation, Pat Kahnke and global Christian leader Tihomir Kukolja unpack the biblical warning in Romans 2:24 — “God’s name is blasphemed among the Gentiles because of you.” Together, they confront the deep harm being done to the Christian witness by Donald Trump and the current Christian nationalist movement in America.

My recent YouTube video titled A Minnesota Pastor Responds to Trump’s Cruelty Toward Somalis was not well-received by a lot of "Christians." Now I'm here to answer them directly on this edition of Culture, Faith, and Politics Live!

Last week, I made a YouTube video defending Somali immigrants in my city — and I didn’t expect the flood of hate from people who call themselves Christians. Today, I’m responding to one of the tamer comments I received — not because it was innocent, but because it shows just how deep the rot goes in MAGA Christianity. If you’ve ever been attacked by so-called believers for standing up for immigrants, refugees, or marginalized people — this is for you.

In this powerful conversation, Tia Levings shares the harrowing true story behind her memoir A Well-Trained Wife—how she was groomed in a fundamentalist evangelical church, survived church-sanctioned domestic abuse, and made a midnight escape from a violent marriage. Joined by Amy Hawk and Pat Kahnke, Tia describes how Bill Gothard’s teachings, Doug Wilson’s Christian patriarchy movement, and the toxic promises of evangelical purity culture shaped her life. From megachurch culture to cult-like control, she unpacks the spiritual manipulation that left her without a sense of self—and the long journey of reclaiming her voice. If you’ve experienced religious trauma, domestic violence, or the disillusionment of high-control Christianity, this interview offers both a mirror and a lifeline.

This week, President Trump made some of the most openly abusive, racist, and dehumanizing comments yet — aimed directly at the Somali community in St. Paul and Minneapolis. He’s also deploying federal agents to intimidate them. As a pastor who spent 20 years in the Twin Cities — and as a neighbor — I’m speaking up.

In this raw and powerful conversation, author and survivor Tia Levings joins Pat Kahnke and Amy Hawk to expose the hidden cruelty behind Pete Hegseth's rise in Christian nationalist circles — and the broader religious movement that enabled him. Drawing from her memoir A Well-Trained Wife and her upcoming book I Belong to Me, Tia shares what it’s like to grow up under church-sanctioned patriarchy, escape at midnight with her children, and heal from years of religious trauma.

YouTube Tuesday night LIVE, Episode 3, from December 2nd, 2025

As Donald Trump’s influence begins to wane, his administration continues to commit staggering abuses—none more horrifying than what Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth is accused of: ordering the extrajudicial killing of two defenseless men off the coast of Venezuela. This episode is a GUT CHECK for America—especially for Christians who still support Trump.

Last Monday, I posted a video on YouTube about Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene’s resignation that sparked a big conversation—some of it supportive, some a little worried I was being “taken in” by her.   Let me be crystal clear: I strongly disagree with almost everything MTG stands for. In this follow-up clip from our Tuesday night Culture, Faith & Politics Live Stream, Ken Napzok and I unpack why her break with Trump is so dangerous—precisely because she's still MAGA to the core.   This isn’t about celebrating Greene. It’s about understanding her influence. Her message will reach people I can’t. And when she says, “There is no plan” and calls Trump out, it pulls the mask off for people still deep in the cult.

Culture, Faith, and Politics LIVE episode 2: Trump's weird and terrible week. (11/11/25)

On Friday night, Marjorie Taylor Greene announced her resignation from Congress. But what stood out most? It wasn’t that she resigned — it was how she did it. Here, I break down the two most important slogans she publicly rejected: “Where we go one, we go all” and “Trust the plan.” These aren’t just slogans — they’re core beliefs for QAnon followers and many MAGA Republicans. But MTG’s statement marks a turning point. She calls out the “cult-like” devotion to Trump, describes herself as a “battered wife,” and — most shockingly — admits she was fooled.

In this episode, Pat Kahnke is joined by Amy Hawk for a frank, faith‑grounded analysis of the way Donald Trump speaks to and about women — and what Christians should do about it. We discuss Trump's "Quiet, piggy" outburst - the most recent example of Trump’s abrasive behavior toward female reporters and how it fits a pattern of abuse. Amy shares her lived experience ministering to abused women, connects the signs of misogyny to a “Genesis 3 spirit,” and asks the hard question: is this just a bug of the movement, or a feature? Finally, we outline a Christian response: calling out abusive power, refusing to idolize bullies, and living out the protectiveness Jesus shows toward women.

Today, Donald Trump called for the arrest – and possible execution – of sitting members of Congress, accusing them of "sedition." Why? Because they released a video reminding U.S. troops of their duty to disobey illegal orders. That’s not sedition. That’s basic constitutional fidelity.

Donald Trump just gave Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman a pass on the brutal murder of Jamal Khashoggi — again. In this episode, we break down Trump’s shocking comments, his financial ties to Saudi Arabia, and what this means for America’s moral compass. Is the U.S. becoming more like the authoritarian regimes we used to challenge? And why are so many Christians still defending this?